Josh Barr's Recruiting Insider

Niagara nabs another local

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:56:19 -0500

Colleague Mark Giannotto has this report: Just got a call from Mount Vernon boys' basketball coach Alfonso Smith concerning star player Skylar Jones. A first-team all-region selection as a junior last year, Jones will officially sign with Niagara University this Wednesday. He picked the Buffalo school over Mount St. Mary's, Robert Morris, Quinnipiac, and UNC-Greensboro. Jones is a 6-foot-3 forward who averaged 19 points and nine rebounds last season as Mount Vernon made it all the way to the Northern Region semifinals.

Walkersville guard picks New Hampshire

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:12:37 -0500

Walkersville hoops coach Ryan Burkey reports that shooting guard Scott Morris has committed to play for New Hampshire. The 6-foot-2 senior is entering his fourth seasons on the Lions' varsity squad and averaged 18.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists and two steals per game last season. New Hampshire Coach Bill Herrion offered Morris a scholarship last month and Morris committed while on his official visit this past weekend. Burkey noted that Morris is a straight A student and ranks No. 1 in his class academically.

Coolidge guard joins the A&T rush

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:54:45 -0500

Coolidge senior point guard Jeremy Underwood is joining the Washington contingent heading down to North Carolina A&T. Underwood committed to the Aggies after taking his official visit over the weekend, according to Coolidge Coach Vaughn Jones. Underwood averaged 10.6 points per game last season, after transferring from Paul VI, and made a team-high 42 three-pointers for the 18-8 Colts. Jones said Underwood carries a 3.75 grade-point average, has qualified academically, and also held offers from Vermont, Cornell and Lafayette. "They love that Jeremy can shoot and handle the ball," Jones said. "It's really going to work out for him there." Underwood will be accompanied in the Aggies' 2010 recruiting class by DeMatha shooting guard Justin Black. Last year, they brought in two other D.C. products - McNamara forward Lawrence Smith and St. Mary's Ryken guard R.J. Buck. Sophomore guard Marc Hill is a McNamara product, as well. Jones said he

Terps snag a defensive lineman

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:17:37 -0500

Just got the word from Wise Coach DaLawn Parrish, who reports defensive end Rahsaan Moore has committed to play for Maryland. Moore is the second Wise senior to commit to the Terps, joining safety Titus Till, who pledged after last season. Moore, who is 6 feet 2 and 235 pounds, had been waiting to see whether Maryland would offer. He racked up several other offers, though none were from schools in BCS conferences. He missed the Pumas' previous two games because of a high ankle sprain but came back in a 35-0 victory over Bowie this past Saturday as Wise set a state public school record with its eighth consecutive shutout.

Terps, Cavs chasing Gonzaga quarterback

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:13:12 -0500

It was a busy weekend for Gonzaga quarterback Kevin Hogan, even though the junior sat out the Eagles' 37-7 loss to No. 7 Good Counsel on Friday because of a sprained throwing hand. On Saturday, Hogan was in Charlottesville for the Virginia-Duke game. During warm-ups, while talking to Anthony Poindexter and some other Cavaliers assistant coaches, Coach Al Groh came over and made Hogan his first scholarship offer. "I was hopeful, but I wasn't really expecting it," said Hogan, who has passed for 1,455 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Then, on Sunday, Hogan called Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin, who also offered Hogan a scholarship. Franklin had been at Gonzaga on Friday and watched some film on Hogan, then attended the Gonzaga-Good Counsel game even though Hogan was held out as a precaution; the Eagles play St. John's on Saturday with the winner advancing to the Washington Catholic Athletic

Tabannah adds New Mexico offer

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:36:13 -0500

Potomac (Md.) defensive back Devonta Tabannah picked up a scholarship offer from New Mexico on Monday. "I talked to [New Mexico Coach Mike] Locksley and then he talked to Tabannah," Potomac Coach Chris Davidson said. "That's a real good offer. Now he has Akron and New Mexico as [division I-A] offers. I expect this will drum up other offers from other people." Tabannah, who is 5 feet 11 and 175 pounds was injured early in the first quarter of the Wolverines 20-2 victory over Central on Oct. 17 and sat out this past week's 53-0 victory over Crossland. Offensively this season, playing a variety of positions, he has passed for 496 yards, rushed for 335 yards, caught five passes for 55 yards and scored three touchdowns. Tabannah could play Saturday against No. 11 Gwynn Park, Davidson said, but it is likely the Wolverines will be cautious as they prepare for

Iowa recruit Coker sits out one more

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:56:32 -0500

Iowa recruit Marcus Coker sat out No. 1 DeMatha's 35-7 victory over O'Connell on Saturday because of a pulled groin muscle. Coker also missed the second half of the Stags' 37-7 victory over St. John's the previous week, but CoachBill McGregor thinks his star is close to returning. Don't be surprised, though, if Coker sits one more game or plays a more limited role Saturday at Carroll (2-6) before DeMatha finishes its regular season against No. 14 Bishop McNamara with the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference playoffs awaiting. "He could have probably played" against O'Connell, McGregor said. "But we decided not to. A twinge or so wasn't worth it. ... I'm going to see how he is [this week] and make sure he is 100 percent. I could play him for a little bit or split time with him and other guys."

Havenstein commits to Wisconsin

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:22:07 -0500

Just got off the line with Linganore's All-Met mountain of an offensive lineman, Robby Havenstein, who has committed to play for Wisconsin. Havenstein said that he chose the Badgers over Maryland. "It was just a good place, a good fit for me," said Havenstein, who is 6 feet 7 and 315 pounds. "I was going back and forth between Maryland and Wisconsin and felt Wisconsin was a better place."

Roosevelt center headed to CAA

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:42:57 -0500

Eleanor Roosevelt basketball coach Brendan O'Connell reports that 6-foot-8 center Alex Bates has committed to play for Northeastern. Bates averaged 1.1 points last season while playing for St. John's. Bates spent three seasons at St. John's before deciding to transfer back to his neighborhood public school. "I figured Roosevelt is right across the street, it's a good school academically and athletically, so I figured why not?" Bates said. "i felt like it would be a good fit for me." Bates said he also considered Boston U., UMBC, Long Island and Fairfield.

Coker's Status Up in the Air

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:03:09 -0500

DeMatha Coach Bill McGregor on Tuesday morning said he won't know the status of Iowa recruit Marcus Coker until later this week. But I wouldn't be surprised if one of the Washington area's leading rushers sits out Saturday's game against O'Connell after pulling his groin muscle in this past week's 37-7 victory over St. John's. Coker carried 11 times for 61 yards before being injured during the first half and sitting out the rest of the game. "It will probably be a Thursday of Friday decision," McGregor said. "It was raining hard and for whatever reason their field was slippery. You're trying to cut and don't have that same type of footing, but it's nothing serious."

Lake Braddock's Kolb makes his decision

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:11:50 -0500

Check over at PrepsPost | Virginia to see where the Bruins' big offensive lineman will play his college football.

Some Gonzaga Lemmon-ade For Robert Morris

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:45:14 -0500

Gonzaga forward Malcolm Lemmons has orally committed to sign with Robert Morris. He becomes the third member of the Purple Eagles' senior class to make a college decision, joining guard Tyler Thornton (Duke) and Cedrick Lindsay (Richmond). According to Gonzaga Coach Steve Turner, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Lemmons took two official visits - to Vermont and Robert Morris - and had interest from several schools in the Ivy and Patriot leagues. Turner likens Lemmons to former Gonzaga All-Met - and current Harvard sophomore - Max Kenyi, in that both can play shooting guard and small forward, defend extremely well and thrive in transition. Lemmons might not be on the radar of D.C. hoops junkies, since he was brought along slowly at Gonzaga. He stayed on the Eagles' junior varsity as a sophomore, where he led the team in scoring, before joining the varsity. Last season, he was fourth on the team

Locksley Draws One-Game Suspension

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:18:35 -0500

New Mexico football coach and top D.C. recruiter Mike Locksley has been suspended for 10 days without pay, following a university investigation into a fight he had with Lobos assistant and DuVal alum J.B. Gerald. Gerald told police Locksley punched him, splitting his lip, though the school's investigation did not determine a punch was thrown. Gerald has not been with the program since the incident, remaining on paid leave. The university made the announcement at a Tuesday news conference, a day after it revealed Locksley had resolved all legal claims arising from an EEOC complaint against him in April. The suspension means Locksley will miss New Mexico's Oct. 24 game against UNLV. New Mexico is 0-6 for the first time since 1987 and has lost 10 straight dating to last season. UNLV (2-4 overall, 0-2 Mountain West) has the worst record of the Lobos' remaining opponents. If it turns out

Seton's Marshall to Make Ga. Tech Visit

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:59:21 -0500

Elizabeth Seton All-Met senior guard Tyaunna Marshall, who committed to the Georgia Tech women's basketball program in July while unofficially visiting the school, will take her official visit there this weekend to watch the Yellow Jackets' first practice and to attend the football game against Virginia Tech. "I just want to get the full atmosphere of it and the full connection, not just basketball," said Marshall, who averaged 16.4 points, 8 rebounds and 3.2 steals last season to help lead the Roadrunners to a 24-7 record. The 5-foot-9 Marshall, who has surpassed 1,000 points for her career, chose Georgia Tech over Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Miami, James Madison, Villanova, South Florida and Delaware. Georgia Tech has reached the past three NCAA tournaments. Marshall said that Elizabeth Seton could be a contender in the WCAC this winter. Its only league losses last season were twice to eventual league champion Good Counsel

Gonzaga QB Draws a Visit from Notre Dame

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:48:37 -0500

Gonzaga Coach Joe Reyda picked up the phone Friday morning and heard an unfamiliar voice. "I'm in the area," Notre Dame assistant coach Ron Powlus said. "I hear you have a quarterback." Reyda wasn't sure who put Powlus in touch with him. Powlus also made recruiting stops Friday at Good Counsel and DeMatha and took in the teams' game that night - watching from the DeMatha sideline, noted a coach from the other team. Or it could have been Notre Dame assistant Rob Iannello, a Catholic University graduate, whom Reyda had contacted trying to drum up interest in junior quarterback Kevin Hogan.